Integrated electronic system utilizing a universal interface to support telephony and other communication services

Abstract

An integrated electronic system that provides telephone, interactive entertainment and other amenities on a vehicle of transportation. The integrated electronic system includes a passenger control unit coupled through a multiple seat electronic unit via a universal interface. The integrated electronic system further includes a passenger control handset directly coupled to the passenger control unit to provide telephony and display control information to the passenger control unit. The passenger control unit appropriately routes the information to the multiple seat electronics unit through the universal interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated electronic system comprising; a passenger control handset including a telephone handset and a hand-held display control unit;   a first plurality of communication lines including at least one communication line supporting a transmission of digital data and at least one communication line supporting a transmission of analog data;   a passenger control unit connected to the first plurality of communication lines, the passenger control unit capable of receiving said analog data from the telephone handset and said digital data from the display control unit of the passenger control handset; and   a universal interface connected to said passenger control unit, said universal interface including a second plurality of communication lines of which at least one communication line is used to continue transmission of said digital data and at least one communication line is used to continue transmission of said analog data.   
     
     
       2. The integrated electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one communication line of the second plurality of communication lines used to transmit said digital data includes a data transmit line serially propagating said digital data from said passenger control unit to a multiple seat electronics unit and a data receive line serially propagating said digital data from the multiple seat electronics unit to said passenger control unit. 
     
     
       3. The integrated electronic system according to claim 2, wherein said data transmit line and said data receive line are associated with a RS-232 standard. 
     
     
       4. The integrated electronic system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one communication line for transmission of said digital data further includes a DC power line and a DC ground line. 
     
     
       5. The integrated electronic system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one communication line of the second plurality of communication lines used to transmit said analog data includes a microphone line propagating analog data received by said passenger control unit from said passenger control handset to the multiple seat electronics unit and a receiver line propagating analog data from the multiple seat electronics unit through said passenger control unit and to a passenger control handset. 
     
     
       6. The integrated electronic system according to claim 5, wherein said at least one communication line for transmission of said analog data further includes an analog ground. 
     
     
       7. The integrated electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said universal interface and an interface formed by said first plurality of signal lines are identical. 
     
     
       8. A telecommunication system adapted for use in a commercial aircraft, the telecommunication system comprising: a multiple seat electronics unit; and   a plurality of integrated electronic systems coupled to said multiple seat electronics unit, each of said plurality of integrated electronic systems including a passenger control unit interconnected to said multiple seat electronics unit through a universal interface including a first plurality of communication lines of which at least one communication line is used to transmit digital data and at least one communication line is used to transmit analog audio data, and   a passenger control handset interconnected to the passenger control unit through a second plurality of communication lines, said passenger control handset communicating with said multiple seat electronics unit by transmitting both said digital data and said analog audio data through said second plurality of communication lines to said passenger control unit and said passenger control unit routing said digital data and analog audio data through said universal interface to said multiple seat electronics unit.     
     
     
       9. The telecommunication system according to claim 8, wherein the passenger control unit further includes a compartment having a recessed portion in which a cover is used to cover said recessed portion of said compartment when said passenger control handset is not implemented herein. 
     
     
       10. The telecommunication system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one communication line of said first plurality of communication lines used to transmit said digital data includes a data transmit line serially propagating said digital data from said passenger control unit to said multiple seat electronics unit and a data receive line serially propagating said digital data from the multiple seat electronics unit to said passenger control unit. 
     
     
       11. The telecommunication system according to claim 10, wherein said data transmit line and said data receive line of said first plurality of communication lines are associated with a RS-232 standard. 
     
     
       12. The telecommunication system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one communication line of said first plurality of communication lines used to transmit said digital data further includes a DC power line and a DC ground line. 
     
     
       13. The telecommunication system according to claim 12, wherein at least one communication line of said first plurality of communication lines used to transmit said analog audio data includes a microphone line propagating analog audio data received by said passenger control unit from said passenger control handset to the multiple seat electronics unit and a receiver line propagating analog audio data from the multiple seat electronics unit through said passenger control unit and to a passenger control handset. 
     
     
       14. The telecommunication system according to claim 13, wherein said at least one communication line of said first plurality of communication lines used to transmit said analog audio data further includes an analog ground. 
     
     
       15. The telecommunication system according to claim 14, wherein said universal interface between said passenger control unit and said multiple seat electronics unit is identical to an interface formed by said second plurality of communication lines. 
     
     
       16. An integrated electronic system comprising: a passenger control handset including a telephone handset and a hand-held display control unit;   a plurality of communication lines including a first communication line supporting a transmission of digital data and a second communication line supporting a transmission of analog data;   a passenger control unit connected to the first plurality of communication lines, the passenger control unit capable of receiving said analog data over the second communication line and said digital data over the first communication line; and   a universal interface connected to said passenger control unit, said universal interface including a second plurality of communication lines of which at least one communication line is used to continue transmission of said digital data and at least one communication line is used to continue transmission of said analog data.